We are loving the action throughout this impressive NHL season so far. As we move into the final stretch of the season, each division’s ladder has already become well formed. This means that every single win or loss can have a significant impact on the position each team will finish in when the regular season draws to a close, so it is important that you don’t miss any of the action!
Here at SportsTips, we are just as keen on the NHL as you are! We spend each and every day going through the best games and previewing them for you. Our experts offer up their free NHL picks, which means that you not only get enjoyment out of watching some intriguing games, but also make extra cash while doing so!
Look below to find our free NHL picks, as we preview the three games on today’s schedule.
New York Rangers @ Philadelphia Flyers – 7.00PM ET
One of three games on tonight’s NHL schedule will see two teams from the Metropolitan Division go toe-to-toe, as the New York Rangers take on the Philadelphia Flyers. Both teams are coming off playing a game yesterday, and they both lost. The Rangers played the Hurricanes and lost 2-4, and the Flyers were up against the Capitals and were steam rolled, 2-9.
Marko Nadin
The Philadelphia Flyers are having a disappointing season as they are 14th in the Eastern Conference with a 23-39-11 record. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 2-9 loss to the Washington Capitals which is the most goals they conceded in a single game in this season. The Flyers are 29th in the league with 2.6 goals per game. They have lost 21 of the last 30 home games, 15 of the last 20 games against Metropolitan Division rivals and 5 of the last 6 Wednesday games.
The New York Rangers have clinched a playoff berth as they are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference with a 47-21-6 record. They have won 3 of the last 5 games but are coming off a 2-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Rangers are second in the league with 25.9% conversion of power play situations and third with only 2.5 allowed goals per game. The Rangers have won 3 of the last 5 games against the Flyers, 6 of the last 7 road games and 5 of the last 7 games played without a day off.
Marko’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-200)
Tony Battalio
The New York Rangers are one of the biggest surprises in the National Hockey League this season. They come into this game as one of the best teams in the league this season and have a real shot to make a run at the Stanley Cup. They come into this game with a record of 47-21-6 through their first 74 games of the season. The Rangers are currently in second place only four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes coming down the final stretch of the season.
The Philadelphia Flyers have had a very rough season and they likely can’t wait for it to come to an end at this point. As they come into this game with a record of 23-39-11 through their first 73 games of the season. They have already been officially eliminated from the playoffs at this point. They are likely looking at a multiyear rebuild in the future as well. As for the result of this game, I have the New York Rangers picking up the victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Tony’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers (-200)
Jeffery Thomas
The New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers will be on the back-to-back after both suffering tough losses on Tuesday night. The Rangers were at home hosting the Carolina Hurricanes and fell 2-4 in a battle of the top two teams in the Metropolitan Division. The loss moved the Rangers 4 points back of the 1st place spot and they’ll now look to close the gap with a win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. The Flyers got destroyed on Tuesday by the Washington Capitals 2-9 and now have been outscored 5-14 in their last two games.
The Flyers look like a team that is just counting down the days until the end of the regular season and aren’t really motivated to win games. That sets this matchup up for a pretty lopsided game as the Rangers still have so much to play for and will be looking to bounce back from the home loss the night before. Give me the Rangers to win this one comfortably.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: New York Rangers -1.5 (+134)
Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets – 7.00PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens are on the road for just one game tonight when they travel to Columbus and take on the Blue Jackets. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four games, including their last two in a row against the Maple Leafs and Jets. The Blue Jackets have lost eight of their last 10 games, but have won two of their last three which takes their record on the season to 34-33-6.
Marko Nadin
The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference with a 34-33-6 record. They are still theoretically in the playoff race but are 18 points behind the Washington Capitals who are the 8 seed in the East. The Blue Jackets have won 2 of the last 3 games but lost the previous seven games. The Blue Jays are 30th in the league allowing 3.7 goals per game. They have won 8 of the last 9 games against teams with a losing record under 40% and 13 of the last 16 games as favorites. Columbus has won the last 4 games against the Canadiens.
The Montreal Canadiens are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 20-42-11 record. The Canadiens have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off a 2-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. They are the second-worst team in the league when it comes to goals allowed per game with 3.8 and are ranked 30th with 2.6 scored goals per game. The Canadiens have lost 5 of the last 7 games against Eastern Conference rivals, 23 of the last 32 games played after one day rest and 29 of the last 39 as a road underdog.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (-178)
Tony Battalio
The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets are both having a rough season this year. The Canadiens come into this game with a record of 20-42-11 through their first 73 games of the season. They are already eliminated from the playoffs this season and are light years away from the team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals last season. They are currently on a two game losing streak. They are in last place in the Atlantic Division.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were an up and down team all season long. As they come into this game with a record 34-33-6 through their first 73 games of the season. They have been hot and cold all season long and they will have a lot to work on in the off-season. They are all but officially eliminated from the playoffs at this point. However I do think they get the victory in this one over the Montreal Canadiens.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Columbus Blue Jackets (-178)
Jeffery Thomas
The Montreal Canadiens will travel to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets on Wednesday in a battle of two teams that will not be in the playoffs. The Canadiens have lost two straight and three out of four following their 2-4 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. The Blue Jackets haven’t played since Saturday, when they beat the Detroit Red Wings 5-4 in overtime. The win was Columbus’ 34th of the year and now with 74 points they sit at 6th in the Metro Division.
Columbus hasn’t won a game at home in almost a month, with the last occurrence coming March 19 against the St. Louis Blues. That’s the reason why I’m not comfortable paying this price for them to win and am going to side with the underdog Canadiens. They’ve shown plenty of competitive efforts down the stretch despite being out of contention and against this vulnerable Columbus team, they should be able to keep things close.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Montreal Canadiens +1.5 (-170)
Los Angeles Kings @ Colorado Avalanche – 9.30PM ET
The Los Angeles Kings are in the middle of their three game road trip on Wednesday when they take on the Colorado Avalanche, who themselves kick off a four game homestand. The Kings are playing on back-to-back nights and last time out they beat the Blackhawks, 5-2. The Avalanche will be a tough opponent for the Kings, as the Colorado based team is currently on a six game winning streak, and their record currently stands at 52-16-6.
Marko Nadin
The Los Angeles Kings are seventh in the Western Conference with a 39-26-10 record and are only 4 points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights who are in ninth place. The Kings have lost 3 of the last 5 games but are coming off a 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. The Kings are ranked second in the league allowing only 28.8 shots on goal per game and fifth with 35 shots on goals per game but are only 22th scoring 2.8 goals per game. The Kings have won the last 6 games played without a day off, 11 of the last 16 road games.
The Colorado Avalanche have the best record in the league with 52-14-6. They have won the last 6 games and are coming off a 2-1 shootout win over the Edmonton Oilers. The Avalanche are ranked third in the league scoring 3.8 goals per game and 4th with 35.3 shots on goals per game. Colorado has won the last 8 games against the Kings. They have also won the last 4 games against a team with a winning record, 48 of the last 55 home games and 9 of the last 11 games played after 3 days of rest.
Marko’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-245)
Tony Battalio
The Los Angeles Kings are playing the second game of a back to back in this one as they get set to take on the best team in the National Hockey League this season. The Kings come into this game with a record of 39-26-10 through their first 75 games of the season. They come into this matchup sitting on the inside looking out at the Stanley Cup playoffs. They will need to get hot during this final seven game stretch if they want to stay in as they currently sit in third place in the Pacific Division.
The Colorado Avalanche had a slow start to the season but got hot in the middle of the year and are now the best team in the National Hockey League. The Colorado Avalanche come into this game with a league best record of 52-14-6 through their first 72 games of the season. They are current favorites to win the Stanley Cup Trophy. As for the result of this game, I have the Colorado Avalanche getting the victory over the Los Angeles Kings.
Tony’s NHL Pick: Colorado Avalanche (-245)
Jeffery Thomas
The Los Angeles Kings will travel to one of the toughest arenas to get a road win in Colorado to face the Avalanche on Wednesday. The Avs have been idle since Saturday when they beat the Edmonton Oilers on the road for their sixth consecutive victory. The Florida Panthers’ 2 points on Tuesday gave them 110 on the year and they are now tied atop the league with Colorado (the Avalanche have played one less game this year though). The Avs have the chance to take sole possession of that lead with a win over overtime loss against the Kings who snapped their three-game losing streak with their 5-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.
Facing the best team on a back-to-back is not the most ideal situation though and it will take a great effort from the 3rd place Los Angeles Kings to stay in this one. The two meetings of these teams have seen a combined 8 goals with the Avs winning both meetings, so there’s a great case for Colorado to cover the spread in this one but I think a safer bet is the under. The Kings haven’t found a way to score many goals in this matchup and the total won’t really be threatened here unless Colorado scores about 5 goals which I don’t see.
Jeffery’s NHL Pick: Under 6 (-102)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of writing, courtesy of FanDuel.
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